Colt 1911 help??? ASAP!

[Steelharp]

Got a customer. Inherited a Colt 1911, ser number dates the frame to 1918. The Uncle was a match shooter, and had the gun converted for competition shooting. It  has a slide from Colt with the number 7790314, NM on the bushing. Adjustable KENSIGHT rear sight. Any idea of value? I have no idea how to find it.

[Grayfox54]

Pictures would help. Has it just been tuned or given a full blown Bullseye overhaul? 

[Steelharp]

[Garufa]

I’m gonna go way out on a limb and take a WAG that with name Colt on it might put it in somewhere in the range of $600.  It is a cobbled together mismatch of parts and customization.  

It is definitely worth what someone is willing to pay for it in his case.

Edited February 10, 2019 by Garufa

[krunchnik]

I am gonna repeat what Garufa said-worth is what someone is willing to pay

[Steelharp]

That's what I told him.

[Sidecarist]

I'd put 800 on it and be a little flexable....

[QuackerSmacker]

I'd say around 800 max as well.  If 1918 original, 1500-3000 depending on some fine nuances of condition.

[gregintenn]

No collector value. Whatever it's worth would be the sum of it's parts plus whatever accuracy it is capable of.

[Garufa]

2 hours ago, Sidecarist said:

I'd put 800 on it and be a little flexable....

I’d say put $600 on it with some wiggle room. The gun store is not going to give anything close to that, especially if they don’t know what it is.

[KahrMan]

You have had some good responses so far. Since it is a Frankengun I believe the 600-800 others have said is correct. 

[Fourtyfive]

I'd say $150 but I'll give $250.

[xtriggerman]

Put the original sights back on, Trigger and period grips and you will get way more for it than the general consensus here as long as the slide markings are in fact original to that frame.  As long as the parts are correct for that period, the Colts are high on GB like GS has suggested. 

[Whisper]

The gun looks like the National Match made by government armorers in the immediate postwar period, although I realize you said the uncle had it converted.  If that's right, I'd say the previous $600-800 is right, depending on how the gun shoots.  But check the stampings -- if it's a government-converted NM, it's got some collector value.  More info here:  https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=386144

Cheers,

Whisper

[Steelharp]

It still has UNITED STATES PROPERTY on it, too.

[AuEagle]

Has the ejection port been messed with? Looks kinda funky in the picture.

[Magiccarpetrides]

So did you all make a deal?

[Steelharp]

57 minutes ago, Magiccarpetrides said:

So did you all make a deal?

There was no deal to be made. He was just seeking information, and I was trying my best to help him. With y'all's help, I was able to do that.

[TGO David]

Value is also going to be affected by whomever did the work.  If it's a no-name smith from years past, I wouldn't expect any additional value.  BUT... if it's a well-known smith, value might skyrocket.  Say, if it's a build that someone like Armand Swenson or Jim Clark did or contributed to.

 

[Grayfox54]

If it had been one of the big name gunsmiths, it would look a lot better.  Did the builder sign it or otherwise put his mark on it?  I'm guessing a local guy did the work. In that case its just another old modified G.I. bring back just like hundreds of others. Any collector value is gone. I'd guess $500-600 tops. 

Now, if you were to take it to the range and find that its a super accurate tack driver, that would change everything and likely double its value. Sure couldn't hurt to give it a try. 

[alingo2001]

And now he has it listed for $1250 on Gun Owner's Club 

[Whisper]

Good luck with that....